Electric sweeper



July 31, 1934. w. LEATHERS ELECTRIC SWEEPER original Filed Deo. 12, 195o IN VEN TOR.

patented .uly 31, 1934y Y UNITEDVSTATES PATENT rice .ELECTRIC SWEEPERr Ward Leathers, Haworth, N. J., assigner to The Quadrex Corporation, a, corporation of Connecticut Application December 12, 1930,. Serial No. 501,873 Renewed December Z2, 1933 The primary object of my invention isto proby anysuitable adjustable or yieldable means, duce an electric sweeper for high speed sweeping as illustrated, 9 is held frictionally to 7 by means purposes as counterdistinct to vacuum-cleaning. of a spring 11, one end of which is latehed to a I accomplish this purpose by means of a m yoke 12,`riveted to the lugs 3, and the other tor-driven rotary sweeper, reversing the direction end impinging against the shaft of the pulleyY 9. 6p or" rotation of the brush as the sweeper is oper- A rotary brush 12 has rigidly attached to its ated to and fro. In order that the dirt may be shaft 13, a friction pulley 14. The brush is supdisposed of, in better manner than in a carpet ported at its ends on a member supported by sweeper, for example, I have added a rotary sucthe housing 4 and the pulley 14 is so disposed tion fan to the motor shaft, and disposed of the with respect to the pulleys '7 and 9 that a slight G5 dirt in any of the several manners outlined in -fore or aft movement will bring the pulley 14 into my co-pending applications. frictional engagement with one or the other of Such a sweeper performs the function in the these driving means. The housing 4 may be conmost efficient manner of the push broom or the tinued on its undersurface in any desired man- 15 carpet sweeper. ner, as at 15, for the production of a suitable 70- In order to set forth my invention in terms so brushing area and air inlet 16. clear that all those familiar with these arts may Theoretically, this sweeping device differs bareadily understand, I have prepared the followsically from the motor driven vacuumsweeper, ing specification to which I have added a drawwith the latter, two operating principles must be ing of whichcompromised, the one is a necessity for a consid- 75 Figure I is a partial lateral cross-section of the erable measure of vacuum, or low pressure, in orsweeping mechanism. der to abstract dirt from carpet pile or directly Figure II is a partial horizontal cross-section through the carpet, and the other, a movement of the same. of a reasonable stream of air as a dirt carrying Figure III is an end View of the sweeper mechagent. In my motor-driven sweeper, there is no 80 anism. vacuum required for cleaning purposes, the suc- Figure IV is a detail. tion unit being used solely for providing a stream In Figure I, 1 is a motor-suction unit showof dirt carrying air.

ing the motor-cover in dotted lines, surrounded In Figure II, which is a horizontal cross-section by an outer housing which carries the dirt-laden of the central and end portions of the rotary air upward to a proper disposal, These princibrush mechanism, the pulley 18 supports the ples are more fully set forth in my cli-pending belt 8. 18 and 7 are made integral, 7 preferably patent applications Nos. 491,415-563,508-563, covered with a frictional, yieldable surface, such 507501,876-501,875493,068-489,281-438, as rubber or felt. The yoke 12 may be riveted, 1794 481,407 474,584-501,874-472,703501, or otherwise joined, to the lugs 3, or the supports 90 877. I have here shown the motor-suction unit for the pulleys may be devised in any other suitsupported on the handle, but it is equally pracable way. As shown, in Figure II, somewhat diatical to apply my sweeper mechanism to a motor grammatically, the boss 19 in the yoke 12 is unit supported on the floor in conventional manturned in with a round hole for the support of ner such as shown in my application for Letters the shaft of the pulley 9. The boss 20 is turned Patent No. 501,875. The part 2, shown as a diein with a horizontal slot allowing the free move V casting, provides a cover for the motor-suction ment in the fore and aft direction of the said fan and an inlet for the dirt-laden air at the shaft. The spring 1l holds the pulleys 7 and 9 center, in the usual manner. It further provides in operable engagement. The shaft 13 of the L two brackets 3, cast integral therewith or joined brush is held in socket bearings 2l. The socket o thereto. To the casting 2 is suitably attached 21 is rigidly attached to a bent part 22 (see Fig'- a stamped brush housing 4. The brush housing ures III and IV), which part carries a oor has joined to it a flap 5 for covering the center roller 23.

Vopening' to the motor-suction unit. A pulley 6, Figure III is an end view of the outside of 5 on the motor shaft drives a friction pulley 7, the brush mechanism. Part 22 is shown rota- 105 pinioned in the brackets 3, by means of a belt 8. tively joined to the housing 4 at 24. This hinge 'I'he friction pulley 7 drives, by friction, an idler may be provided in any manner, but I have prepulley 9, also operatively supported by the lugs ferred to show it as a boss on 22, fitting neatly 3, or extensions thereto. Frictional engagement into a depressed socket in the housing 24, and between the pulleys 9 and 7 may be maintained held therein by a spring 25. When the springs 1100 25, one on either end of the brush housing, are raised free from engagement with 22, the parts 22, together with the rollers 23, and the brush 12, may be completely and immediately removed from the cleaner.

rI'he part 22 is more clearly set forth in Figure 1V. A rigid mounting is provided in the outer portion for the support of the idler roller 23. A socket 21 is rigidly attached to the inner portion. Since the end of the housing 4 is disposed between the inner and outer portions of 22, the roller 23, is well supported both top and bottom and the socket 21 is firmly held in place.

In operation, as the cleaner is pushed forward, the roller 23 furnishes sucient back-drag to engage the pulleys 14 and 7, thus driving the brush 12 in a forward sweeping motion. When the cleaner is drawn backward, 14 engages 9, reversing the direction of the brush 12 and permitting it to sweep in a relative forward motion.

Having set forth my invention in clear terms, I wish it understood that the principles involved are those that may be applied in many and devious forms of design without departing from the spirit thereof.

I claim 4 y l. In a suction cleaner, in combination, two power-operated driving-pulleys rotating in opposite directions; a nozzle; a rotary brush within said nozzle supported for back and forth movement relatively to the mouth thereof in acn cordance with the forward and backward movements of the cleaner; said crush having a cylindrical pulley-portion which alternately engages said oppositely rotating driving pulleys, one at a time, in accordance with the forward and backward movements of the brush.

2. In a suction cleaner, in combination, twopower-operated drivingpulleys rotating in opposite directions; a nozzle; a rotary brush and an oscillatory support therefor on the nozzle, said support having floor-engaging wheels and permitting back and forth movement of the brush relatively to the mouth of the nozzle in accordance with the forward and backward movements of the cleaner; said brush having a cylindrical pulley-portion which alternately engages said cppositely rotating driving-pulleys one at a time, in accordance with the forward and backward movements of the brush.

WARD LEATHERS. 

